Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks throughout a media convention on the EU Summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.
Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP
cover caption
toggle caption
Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP
KYIV, Ukraine — The USA and Ukraine have reached a consensus on a number of crucial points aimed toward bringing an finish to the almost four-year battle, however delicate points round territorial management in Ukraine’s jap industrial heartland, together with the administration of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant, stay unresolved, Ukraine’s president mentioned.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke because the U.S. confirmed the 20-point plan, hammered out after marathon talks in Florida in current days, to Russian negotiators. A response is predicted from Moscow on Wednesday, Zelenskyy mentioned.
The Ukrainian president briefed journalists on every level of the plan on Tuesday. His feedback had been embargoed till Wednesday morning. The draft proposal, which displays Ukraine’s needs, intertwines political and industrial pursuits to safeguard safety whereas boosting financial potential.
On the coronary heart of the negotiations lies the contentious territorial dispute in regards to the Donetsk and Luhansk areas, referred to as the Donbas. That is “probably the most troublesome level,” Zelenskyy mentioned. He mentioned these issues can be mentioned on the leaders stage.
Russia continues to say maximalist calls for, insisting that Ukraine relinquish the remaining territory in Donbas that it has not captured — an ultimatum that Ukraine has rejected. Russia has captured most of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk.
In a bid to facilitate compromise, the US has proposed reworking these areas into free financial zones. Ukraine insists that any association should be contingent upon a referendum, permitting the Ukrainian folks to find out their very own destiny. Ukraine is demanding the demilitarization of the world and the presence of a global pressure to make sure stability, Zelenskyy mentioned.
How the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant, the biggest plant in Europe which is below Russian occupation, can be managed is one other contentious problem. The U.S. is proposing a consortium with Ukraine and Russia, with every get together having an equal stake within the enterprise.
However Zelenskyy countered with a three way partnership proposal between the U.S. and Ukraine, during which the Individuals are capable of resolve the way to distribute their share, presuming it could go to Russia.
“We didn’t attain a consensus with the American aspect on the territory of the Donetsk area and on the ZNPP,” Zelenskyy mentioned, referring to the ability plant in Zaporizhzhia. “However we’ve got considerably introduced a lot of the positions nearer collectively. In precept, all different consensus on this settlement has been discovered between us and them.”
A free financial zone compromise
Level 14, which covers territories that lower throughout the jap entrance line, and Level 12, which discusses administration of the Zaporizhzhia plant, will seemingly be main sticking factors within the talks.
Zelenskyy mentioned: “We’re in a scenario the place the Russians need us to depart the Donetsk area, and the Individuals are looking for a method in order that it’s ‘not a method out’ — as a result of we’re in opposition to leaving — they need to discover a demilitarized zone or a free financial zone on this, that’s, a format that may present for the views of each side.”
The draft states that the contact line, which cuts throughout 5 Ukrainian areas, be frozen as soon as the settlement is signed.
Ukraine’s stance is that any try to create a free financial zone should be ratified by a referendum, affirming that the Ukrainian folks in the end maintain the decision-making energy, Zelenskyy mentioned. This course of would require 60 days, he added, throughout which era hostilities ought to cease to permit the method to occur.
Harder discussions would require hammering out how far troops could be required to maneuver again, per Ukraine’s proposal, and the place worldwide forces could be stationed. Zelenskyy mentioned in the end “folks can select: this ending fits us or not,” he mentioned.
The draft additionally proposes that Russian forces withdraw from Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv areas, and that worldwide forces be situated alongside the contact line to watch the implementation of the settlement.
“Since there isn’t a religion within the Russians, they usually have repeatedly damaged their guarantees, at the moment’s contact line is popping right into a line of a de facto free financial zone, and worldwide forces needs to be there to ensure that nobody will enter there below any guise — neither ‘little inexperienced males’ nor Russian army disguised as civilians,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
Managing Zaporizhzhia energy plant
Ukraine can be proposing that the occupied metropolis of Enerhodar, which is linked to the Zaporizhzhia energy plant, be a demilitarized free financial zone, Zelenskyy mentioned. This level required 15 hours of discussions with the U.S., he mentioned.
For now, the U.S. proposes that the plant be collectively operated by Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia, with all sides receiving dividends from the enterprise.
“The USA is providing 33 % for 33 % for 33 %, and the Individuals are the principle supervisor of this three way partnership,” he mentioned. “It’s clear that for Ukraine this sounds very unsuccessful and never solely sensible. How will you have joint commerce with the Russians after all the things?”
Ukraine provided another proposal, that the plant be operated by a three way partnership with the U.S. during which the Individuals can decide independently the way to distribute their 50 % share.
Zelenskyy mentioned billions in investments are wanted to make the plant run once more, together with restoring the adjoining dam.
“There have been about 15 hours of conversations concerning the plant. These are all very advanced issues.”
A separate annex for safety ensures
The doc ensures that Ukraine can be supplied with “sturdy” safety ensures that mirror NATO’s Article 5, which might obligate Ukraine’s companions to behave within the occasion of renewed Russian aggression.
Zelenskyy mentioned {that a} separate bilateral doc with the U.S. will define these ensures. This settlement will element the situations below which safety can be offered, notably within the occasion of a renewed Russian assault, and can set up a mechanism to watch the ceasefire.
This mechanism will make the most of satellite tv for pc know-how and early warning methods to make sure efficient oversight and fast response capabilities.
“The temper of the US of America is that that is an unprecedented step in direction of Ukraine on their half. They imagine that they’re giving sturdy safety ensures,” he mentioned.
The draft comprises different components together with maintaining Ukraine’s military at 800,000 throughout peace time, and by nailing down a particular date for ascension to the European Union.
Elections and boosting the economic system
The doc proposes accelerating a free commerce settlement between Ukraine and the U.S. as soon as the settlement is signed. The U.S. needs the identical take care of Russia, mentioned Zelenskyy.
Ukraine want to obtain short-term privileged entry to the European market and a sturdy international growth package deal, that can cowl a wide-range of financial pursuits, together with a growth fund to spend money on industries together with know-how, information facilities and synthetic intelligence, in addition to fuel.
Additionally included are funds for the reconstruction of territories destroyed within the struggle.
“Ukraine could have the chance to find out the priorities for distributing its share of funds within the territories below the management of Ukraine. And it is a essential level, on which we spent quite a lot of time,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
The aim can be to draw $800 billion by way of fairness, grants, loans and personal sector contributions.
The draft proposal additionally requires Ukraine to carry elections after the signing of the settlement. “That is the companions’ imaginative and prescient,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
Ukraine can be asking that each one prisoners since 2014 be launched directly, and that civilian detainees, political prisoners and kids be returned to Ukraine.
